The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (CCBF) will return for its 13th year on Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Chappaqua Train Station. This year’s festival welcomes more than 170 bestselling and award-winning authors and illustrators, featuring an exciting mix of returning favorites and first-time participants. Families can once again enjoy story times, author talks, illustration demonstrations, book signings, food trucks, and hands-on activities during one of the nation’s premier celebrations of children’s literature.
The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven celebration of books, creativity, and community that brings together readers and the authors and illustrators who inspire them. What began in 2013 as a neighborhood event with 65 creators and 4,000 attendees has grown into one of the nation’s largest children’s book festivals, welcoming more than 170 authors and illustrators and over 10,000 visitors from across the tri-state area and beyond each year. Proceeds from the festival help support literacy initiatives and reading programs in local schools.
“The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival has always been about creating meaningful connections between readers and the incredible creators behind the books they love,” said Elizabeth Blye, Executive Director of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. “As we celebrate our 13th year, we’re thrilled to welcome more than 170 authors and illustrators and to introduce new experiences that encourage families to spend time together discovering books and nurturing a love of reading.”
The 2026 festival lineup features an extraordinary collection of acclaimed creators spanning board books, picture books, middle grade, young adult fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. Featured returning authors and illustrators include Elana K. Arnold, Tracey Baptiste, Winsome Bingham, Nick Bruel, Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Barbara Dee, Sayantani DasGupta, Josh Funk, Karina Yan Glaser, Chris Grabenstein, Dan Gutman, Victoria Kann, Alan Katz, Jarrett Lerner, Gail Carson Levine, Kevin Lewis, Lauren Magaziner, Kate Messner, Sharee Miller, Dan Poblocki, James Preller, Pat Schories, Steve Sheinkin, Heidi EY Stemple, Lauren Tarshis, Mara & Matthew Van Fleet, Joyce Wan, along with many more returning & celebrated creators from across the children’s publishing world.
The festival is also excited to welcome dozens of authors and illustrators making their first appearance at CCBF, including Julio Anta, Kalynn Bayron, Ashley Belote, Justin Colón, Nicole D. Collier, Andrea D’Aquino, Avani Dwivedi, Maggie Edkins Willis, Matt Eicheldinger, Julie Fogliano, Marla Frazee, Tiffany Hammond, Alleanna Harris, Kay Healy, Jonathan Hill, Jennifer L. Holm, Anna Kang, Suzanne Lang, K.E. Lewis, Brian Lies, Silvia Liu, Wendy Lu, Aimee Lucido, Kristi Mahoney, Adriana Mather, Katie Mazeika, Matthew McElligott, Janice Milusich, Malcolm Newsome, Jerrard K. Polk, Eliot Schrefer, Stephen Shaskan, Bob Shea, Dashka Slater, Laurel Snyder, Erin Soderberg Downing, David Ezra Stein, Traci N. Todd, Katy Tanis, Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow, Traci N. Todd, Christopher Weyant, Alex Willan, Allison Wortche, Salina Yoon, and many others.
New this year, Title Sponsor Sari Shaw of The Westchester Living Team at Compass will debut a welcoming reading area where families can relax, read together, and enjoy books throughout the day. The thoughtfully designed space reflects the festival’s mission of fostering a lifelong love of reading while creating a comfortable gathering place for visitors of all ages.
In addition, the festival will feature:
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Kids Activity Area by Title Sponsor Kiwi Country Day Camp
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Book characters for children to meet such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Grumpy Monkey, Biscuit, and Curious George
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Bubble Bus & Family Fun Zone with free crafts & activities for kids and families provided by sponsors
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Story Time with ASL interpretation
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Drawing demonstrations
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Hands-on Programming from Sponsor and beloved children’s publication Highlights Magazine
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Nonprofit partnerships with 914Cares, The Book Fairies, & The LatinxKidLitBookFestival, and the student run organization: Circle of Friends!
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Food trucks serving a variety of local favorites throughout the day including Grey’s Donuts, Kisco Sweets & Treats, Leila’s Crepes, Mobile Pie, The Poppin Pancake Cart, Scotty’s Egg Rolls, Taco Street (beloved Chappaqua restaurant), Three Little Pigs, & Wrapper’s Delight
The 2026 official festival poster was created by acclaimed illustrator Jay Cooper, whose energetic and expressive artwork has appeared in numerous beloved children’s books and graphic novels. His original illustration captures the imagination, adventure, and joy of reading that have become hallmarks of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.
The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is free to attend, with free parking, and will take place rain or shine. For updates, follow the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival on Instagram and Facebook, or visit www.ccbfestival.org to learn more.
